Prices and availability for parts have mostly returned to normal, even if ammunition is still rare & expensive. (A few special parts are still hard to find for a fair price.) Unfortunately, it is inevitable that someone like Feinstein, Bloomberg, or Schumer will eventually start pushing for “gun control” again. It is possible that we may eventually see another ban on “assault” weapons and/or “high-capacity” magazines.

Of course, the question becomes “How should I spend my money?” We’re not made of money! Ask yourself what matters the most to you. For me, I think “assault” weapons look nice and feel nice. I love the adaptability of the AR-15, and I like threaded barrels on pistols. However, I also recognize that things like pistol grips and threaded barrels are nice, but they’re not really important one way or the other. Like we keep saying, the entire “assault” weapon controversy is based on how a weapon looks, not how it shoots. Hence, it’s really a moot point either way. I don’t support a ban (because it’s stupid), but I’ll be ok.

I think the “high-capacity” magazines are FAR more important for self-defense. Yes, in most self- defense cases, capacity is not a problem. Most self-defense cases are solved with less than 5 shots. However, I can point to cases that have needed more than 5, or 10, or 20 shots to stop an attacker. And frankly, there is NO advantage to having less ammo! A Glock 17 doesn’t get any smaller when you replace the 17 round magazine with a 10 round magazine. Hence, I think that anyone on a limited budget should probably buy some “high-capacity” magazines right now, just in case of a future ban.

Yes, you could wait and buy the magazines later, but prices will never be lower than they are right now. I understand that you might not have the money to buy now, but what advantage is there to waiting? It’s still $30 whether you buy today, tomorrow, or next month. (Except that it might be $60 next month if Feinstein starts trying to ban again.)

Of course, it may not work. I’m not psychic. Maybe the next ban will be absolute – “Mr & Mrs America, turn them all in” (F- you Feinstein!). Or maybe there you’ll be allowed to keep them, but not allowed to use them. However, the more outrageous the ban is, the more likely it is to go to the Supreme Court. For example, the 5th Amendment requires that “just compensation” be paid to people when the government takes your legal property. On the other hand, no compensation was paid to the people whose alcohol was confiscated & destroyed in the 1920s. If the government is willing to ignore the 1rst, 2nd, and 4th Amendments, then the 5th is probably not a problem. (Of course, if you buy now, you would have the choice to disobey later. If you don’t buy now, you won’t have a choice if a ban hits.)

Still, I think it’s worth risking $30 (or $100, or whatever you can afford) to guarantee that you will have a “high-capacity” magazine in the future. I recommend that you buy at least two (one for main duty, one as a backup/reload), but consider buying more if you can afford it. Magazines can break or wear out. Think of them like car tires – they more you “drive” them, the sooner they wear out. You can NEVER have too many magazines! I don’t know how many I have, but it’s more than a few!

Even if you don’t own a gun yet, you should still think about buying some magazines. You can buy a gun later. If you don’t know what gun you want to buy, here are some the most common models.

Pistols (9mm) – in no order

Glock 17 or 19

Beretta 92

Sig Sauer P226

S&W 59 (old) – also fits in the Lionheart LH9

S&W M&P (new)

Springfield XD or XDM

FNH FNX-9

HK USP

Note: there are a few rifles that shoot 9mm ammo, and a few of them use pistol magazines. The Glock is definitely the most common in a 9mm rifle, but Kel-Tec makes an “assault” rifle the uses Glock or Beretta or Sig or S&W 59 magazines.

Rifles
AR-15 – these are the single most common rifle magazines in the US BY FAR!! Other rifles that use AR-15 maazines: IWI Tavor, FNH FS2000, modified Steyr AUG, Kel-Tec SU-16, Benelli Benelli MR1, Mossberg MVP, and several less-common rifles

AK-47 – very few rifles use AK-47 magazines (except for the AK, of course), but if there is a ban, I guarantee someone will eventually design a post-ban rifle to use AK magazines.

Mini-14 – the Ruger Mini-14 is great because it is “politically correct” but magazines are expensive, and no other gun uses a Mini-14 magazine. However, Mini-14 rifles are common. (You can even buy one at certain WalMarts)

Saiga – the Saiga is a “politically correct” version of the AK. The Saiga uses special magazines, but some models can be modified to use AK magazines.

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About jurmond

'Jurmond' was the name of my first character in a homebrew D&D campaign. He was a gunslinger and tinker, creating and carrying strange weapons that belched fire and smoke. That was well over a decade ago but I still think of him whenever fiction and firearms collide, so it seems the perfect pen name for this project.